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WASHINGTON: The US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Marc Grossman, has begun a tour of both countries as well as India and Saudi Arabia, the State Department said Thursday.

It will be the first time that Grossman, who departed Washington on Wednesday, has traveled to India since he succeeded Richard Holbrooke, who died in December, the department said in a statement.

“In all of his meetings in the region, Ambassador Grossman will emphasize the US commitment to long-term, enduring partnerships with both Afghanistan and Pakistan,” the department said.

“In Kabul and Islamabad, Ambassador Grossman will meet with senior government officials, parliamentarians, and representatives from civil society and local media,” the department said.

He will also meet in Pakistan with those who chair the US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue working groups to discuss preparations for the next round of consultations, it said.

“In Riyadh, Ambassador Grossman will also meet with senior government officials,” it said.

A State Department document from February 2010 that was released by whistleblower website WikiLeaks late last year said Saudi Arabia has been assisting in negotiations with the Taliban militia in Afghanistan.

Other US diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks said Saudi Arabia is also the key source of funding for radical groups including Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan and Hamas in Gaza.

Gross’ tour comes as President Barack Obama reshuffles his national security team by appointing CIA chief Leon Panetta as defense secretary, and General David Petraeus, commander of forces in Afghanistan, as CIA chief.

The US contingent which makes up two-thirds of the 140,000 member International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is due to begin drawing down this summer.